Choir Format
The Inter-Mennonite Children’s Choir is made up of several smaller groups of singers from grade 1 and up. In order to provide appropriate training to singers of all levels, the choir is divided into three distinct groups according to age and experience.
The Training Choir is for singers in grades 1-3 is designed to introduce young children to the choir environment and give uncertain singers additional opportunities to develop solid pitch matching skills. Singers will have some opportunities to sing with the Concert Choir. This ensemble is led by Caroline Schmidt.
The Concert Choir and the Small Ensemble are for singers aged 9 and up who enjoy expressing themselves through vocal music. Typically, the younger, less experienced singers are placed in the Concert Choir, while a select group of older, more experienced singers forms the Small Ensemble (usually grade seven and up). These ensembles are led by Carolyn Neumann VanderBurgh
Rehearsals
Rehearsals begin on the second Tuesday in September and continue each Tuesday, until approximately the second weekend in May at: W-K United Mennonite Church, 15 George St., Waterloo.
Each choir has a different, overlapping time slot Tuesday evenings, and all singers are expected to arrive 10 minutes before their scheduled rehearsal.
Group Times
Training Choir 6:00-7:00
Concert Choir 6:30-8:00
Small Ensemble 7:15-8:30
Performances
The choir performs at annual Christmas (usually the second weekend in December) and Spring Concerts (usually the first weekend in May) as well as other events during the year.
Expectations of Singers
Singers are expected to attend all rehearsals and do at-home preparation for each rehearsal using the IMCC google classroom or audio sent via email. Weekly choir notes with rehearsal notes are sent to all singers, and singers/parents are expected to read the notes carefully for pertinent information. All music and words must be memorized for all performances.
Expectations of Parents
Parents are required to attend two mandatory choir meetings, typically in late September and late January. Meetings are held during the weekly rehearsals.
Parents will also be assigned supervision duty during rehearsals for the choir year. This usually amounts to between 3 to 5 rehearsals from September to May.
To keep fees reasonable, unpaid parent volunteers, under the direction of the volunteer Parent Executive Committee, handle the day-to-day running of the choir. During the year, parents are requested to help with various choir functions.
All parents are expected to find a way in which they can volunteer beyond the assigned supervision duties. During the year, the choir will need assistance with administration, concert receptions, music library, registration, concert ticket sales, concert set-up, concert clean-up, publicity, etc. Parents are asked to volunteer in the areas where they feel they can help the most.
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